Here come the Small Faces, boxed up

“Here Comes the Nice: The Immediate Years Box Set, 1967-1969″ is due Jan. 27 in an edition limited to 3,000 copies. These sets are “personally signed” by Kennedy Jones and Ian McLagan, the surviving members of the quartet who “supervised and curated” the project.

“Here Comes the Nice” had been expected for the holidays, but was pushed back. The box set will go for about $145 in the U.S. — Amazon appears to have the exclusive — and apparently won’t be sold in the U.K. (“due to copyright restrictions”).

“Here Comes the Nice” packs in 75 songs, spread across four CDs. Tracks are “remastered from original analog master tapes & studio multitracks.” The first CD contains all of the English band’s singles and EPs; the other three discs explore rareities, alternate takes and live tracks.

There’s a vinyl component as well: Three colored 7-inch vinyl EPs and a replica acetate pressing of the song “Mystery … .”

Of course, it’ll be loaded with other goodies, including a hardbound coffee-table book with a forward by Pete Townshend. Rock stars paying tribute in print include Robert Plant, Paul Weller, David Bowie, Nick Mason, Peter Frampton and Chris Robinson. A 64-page lyric booklet comes with words to all songs “transcribed & endorsed by band members for the first time ever.”

There are two replica posters, one for the release of “Tin Soldier” and another for an English gig. And a six-panel Immediate Records press kit for the band’s classic album “Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake,” five postcards and a pair of “fine art prints.”

The group spanned the mod and psychedelic eras of the 1960s but remained relatively unknown in the States. Lane later found Stateside success with Faces (Rod Stewart), while Mariott worked the colonies with Humble Pie. Interest in the band has grown over the decades, as “Itchycoo Park” remains a classic rock staple and “Lazy Sunday” became a belated hit after a “Saturday Night Live” skit.

Charly released a three-CD version of “Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake” in 2012.

Small Faces store

Comments

Having a long running conversation with a knowledgeable friend on music the subject of just what and how would one define “Psychedelic Music.” Maybe a open forum for your readers to discus this subject? maybe a editorial? a comment box to share ideas?

I would believe many have very different opinions where is line is drawn as is obvious from the songs and albums nominated to your list of best of. A good example would be song number 53 Don’t Come Around Here No More on the same list as song number 28 Help, I’m A Rock… or a classic blues song Hey Joe … Just something to chew on for you and maybe something for us out there to give input on?

Reid: Please check out this post about What Is Psychedelic Music? It should answer your questions about this web site’s philosophy. Personally, I think “Don’t Come Around Here” and “Help, I’m a Rock” are good roommates — YMMV.

The sad reality of reader forums is they’re a headache for site owners because of spammers and other lowlifes. If I thought one would succeed, I might give it a go sometime. Several ways to give feedback, though: If you’d like to comment on any given song, just use the comments box at the bottom of each post. And of course you can suggest top songs and albums via the Readers’ Picks section, and I usually post those.